County spared during storms

STRADDLING THE FENCE — Charles Whitby examines a trampoline that blew over his fence from a neighbor’s yard

By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
Heavy rains and high winds swept through Obion County Thursday night, but there were no reports of any major storm damage early today.
Obion County Emer-gency Management director Danny Jowers said there were scattered reports of limbs being downed during thunderstorms which blew across the area from about 6:30 to 8 p.m.
He said there were no confirmed tornado touchdowns, even though there were six different tornado warnings at different times during the evening. They were issued at various times in specific portions of Obion County, as well as once for the entire county, with the final warning expiring about 8 p.m.
“I don’t have any reports of anything, just minor limbs and no confirmed tornado touchdowns anywhere,” he said.
Jowers made the rounds early this morning to check for flooding throughout the county and told The Messenger at press time that he found no major problems in the aftermath of the heavy rains.
A flood warning remained in effect for Obion County and northwest Tennessee today, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Jowers said he recorded 4 1/2 inches of rainfall from precipitation that fell throughout the day Thursday and into Thursday night at a gauge at his office at the Obion County Law Enforcement Complex in Union City.
“The ground was so dry that it’s sucking it up,” he said. “Sunday night and into Monday may be different. There could be a flooding problem (with another round of rain forecast for the area).”
The forecast from the National Weather Service calls for a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday night. The chance of showers and thunderstorms increases to 50 percent during the day Sunday and then 80 percent Sunday night. There is also a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon Monday.
In other areas
Storm-related delays were reported during Thursday night’s men’s basketball game at the University of Tennessee at Martin due to two tornado warnings which resulted in Skyhawk Arena being evacuated twice.
Tragedy struck about 35 miles to the north when four Amish children were swept away in a creek swollen by heavy rains in Graves County, Ky. Authorities reported a family of nine was trying to cross a portion of a road that had been covered with an undetermined depth of water when their horse-drawn buggy overturned and knocked them into the water. Two adults and three of the children escaped, but four other children — ranging in age from five months to 11 years — were swept away.
Graves County Sheriff Dewayne Redmon said the bodies of three of the children, including the baby, were recovered about 12:30 a.m. today, the Associated Press reported. The body of the fourth child, an 11-year-old girl, was found about 9:45 a.m. today. Crews from Graves, Hickman, Carlisle and McCracken counties assisted in the recovery effort.
Heavy rains and winds from 60-80 mph blew through the Memphis area Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service, which reported several possible tornadoes were spotted in northwestern Tennessee and eastern Arkansas.
On Highway 51 near Memphis, sheets of rain fell, tree limbs blew onto the road and lightning lit up the evening sky, according to the Associated Press.
In Nashville, where rain fell most of the day, emergency officials told workers to get home by 6 p.m. and stay there.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 2.25.11

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